Movies @bout Serial Killers:

[wednes]

Tonight I sat down and watched my DVD of Gacy in it's entirety. It is one of several low budget and if I'm not mistaken--straight to video B movies about a few prominent American serial killers. The other ones I own are NightStalker, Ed Gein (which has since been given a new title), Dahmer, and Ted Bundy. If there are more in that series, I'm not aware of them. These movies all have some interesting strengths and weaknesses. Dahmer has probably the best performances by the actors. Jeremy Renner is awesome and lends great compassion to the lead character. Ted Bundy has a ton of great over-the-top gore and rage. It is a creepy, yet insightful interpretation of the character. Nightstalker has some cool effects and some really "out there" directing choices, some of which pay off nicely. While Ed Gein is disturbing, unnerving, relentless in its slow pacing, and really just a fabulous watch. Gein is also the most factually correct of these films, probably due in no small part to Steve Railsback. I love that guy...look for him in The Devils Rejects!

Gacy had many things to enjoy. A totally beleiveable lead performance by Mark Holton is the rope that pulls this film together and wraps it around your neck. Holton, in case you forgot, played the bicycle stealing co-conspirator/spoiled rich kid "FRAN SESS" in Pee Wee's Big Adventure. He is very frightening as the self-hating gay killer, John Wayne Gacy. This film has a few factual errors, but not enough to make me dislike it. And there's lots of people smoking pot...because that's what serial killers enjoy in thier free time.

Comments

[porcelain72.livejournal.com]

Holton, in case you forgot, played the bicycle stealing co-conspirator/spoiled rich kid "FRAN SESS" in Pee Wee's Big Adventure. He is very frightening as the self-hating gay killer, John Wayne Gacy.

Holy crap, I definitely have to see this now.

[emperorsamir.livejournal.com]

that's totally weird, i watched that movie as well last night. i don't know much about what gacy actually did, but i wouldn't have minded seeing mark holton in the pogo costume the whole entire movie...

[oscarssister23.livejournal.com]

Been meaning to see those. Thanks for the mini-review.

[missmisty.livejournal.com]

I have to see it if it has FRAN SESS in it! That's one of L'il T's favorite movies.

I have it in my Q on Netflix, but I keep renting the movies and then I only watch a bit before I get overwhelmed and have to fall back on my artsy-fartsy movies.

I did watch the Hillside Stranglers with Ed Norton as one of the main characters, it was pretty good.

And yes, all stoners are serial killers waiting to be released.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wouldve liked to have seen more Pogo. Brain Dennehy played Gacy in a TV version of the story and he does a lot more stuff in the clown suit.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I beleive the Hillside Stranglers movie you speak of had Billy Zane...unless this is one I have not heard of.

I'm interested in knowing who they will cover next in this series. Lake and Ng would be good, or maybe Shawcross.

[pay-the-forfit.livejournal.com]

Jagoff! Hehe, love that movie.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

*breathes menacingly*

Don't call me that!!!

[pay-the-forfit.livejournal.com]

damn you reply quick.

[missmisty.livejournal.com]

No, wait, I thought about it over the weekend and it was C. Thomas Howell, not Ed Norton.

For some reason I was thinking American History X.

Sorry.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I can see that happeneing, AH X fucks me up. I bought it but hardly ever watch it. That grocery store scene is just awful.